Blog:All quiet in Turin?

Been chatting with journalist Glenn Brooks about Fiat. We seemed to come around to a couple of serious points for Fiat watchers to note. One, don't be fooled by the fact that Fiat is not in the news lately - the financial situation there remains dire with flagging sales and big debts. Two, GM execs probably feel GM has been suckered thus far and do not want to be left holding the baby or being set-up to be the bad guy who fires the workers to make Fiat more profitable. Maybe more integration of Opel and Fiat Auto operations would make sense, but we agreed that what Fiat really needs is someone like Carlos Ghosn - a shrewd debt remover and asset seller who would shore up the bottom line. Anyway, Glenn will be doing some digging on this subject for just-auto.

Given the startling complexity of obtaining a journalist visa for China - the code 'J2' is now indelibly stamped on my mind - it was with some surprise how swiftly I managed to sail through airport im...